2020 Indie Book Awards Shortlist Announced: Focus on Kids and YA

In exciting news just in the shortlist for the 2020 Indie Book Awards has been announced. There are many of our kids and YA favourites that have made the list, books we have loved and we know you have too – because you told us!

We all love our local bookshops and booksellers are an invaluable source when it comes to recommendations. Established in 2008, the Indie Book Awards recognise and celebrate this country’s incredible talent and the role independent booksellers play in supporting and nurturing Australian writing.

On the announcement author of Young Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe, acknowledged the vital role that booksellers have in the publishing industry.

‘Our independent booksellers work tirelessly to champion the work of Australian writers and illustrators and so it means a lot to me that Young Dark Emu has been shortlisted by these very booksellers, at the heart of our industry.’

The twenty-four shortlisted books will be vying for the top spot as the Overall Indie ‘Book of the Year’. Panels of expert judges (all indie booksellers and avid readers) will choose the winners in the six book categories and independent booksellers from around the country will then vote to select their favourite book of the year from the six category winners.

You can take a look at the full list here and below we have listed the Children’s and Young Adult contenders. There are many that we have reviewed so where possible we have linked to our review.

Since the Awards inception in 2008, the Indies have a well-deserved reputation for picking the best of the best in Australian writing. Past Book of the Year winners have gone on to be bestsellers and win other major literary awards. Previous winners include: Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton; Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, The Dry by Jane Harper; The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood; The Bush by Don Watson; The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan; The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman; All That I Am by Anna Funder; The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do; Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey; and  Breath by Tim Winton.

Congrats to all those who made the list and best of luck for March 23 when the winners will be announced.

CHILDREN’S

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals by Sami Bayly (Lothian Children’s Books)

Into the Wild: Wolf Girl, Book 1 by Anh Do, illustrated by Jeremy Ley (Allen and Unwin Children’s)

The Tiny Star by Mem Fox & Freya Blackwood (Puffin Australia)

Young Dark Emu: A Truer History by Bruce Pascoe (Magabala Books)

YOUNG ADULT

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim (Allen and Unwin Children’s)

Aurora Rising: The Aurora Cycle 1 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Allen and Unwin Children’s)

It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood (Text Publishing)

Monuments by Will Kostakis (Lothian Children’s Books)

Find out more about the award and see the full shortlist here.